Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Tampa Salutes MacDill AFB

A Look at Over 60 Years of Growth and Change

By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

1. Tampa Salutes MacDill AFB Marker

Inscription. On January 14, 1941, Col. Clarence Tinker landed a twin-engined B-18 Bomber on the first MacDill Field runway and a new era for Tampa was born. Soon after, the U.S. would enter World War II and MacDill's pilot training would prove to be an important part of the Allies' superiority in the air. Since then, the base and the Tampa community have continued to grow and change along with the times and the needs of our country. Today, the base is home to over fifty mission partners, each committed to providing a critical public service throughout the United States and the world.

Who was Colonel Leslie MacDill?Colonel Leslie MacDill was an aviation pioneer, a veteran of World War I, and a distinguished member of the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1938, while actively helping prepare the Corps to expand its number of bases in case of war, he was killed in a plane crash near Washington, D.C. In 1940, the Army honored Colonel MacDill by naming Tampa's not yet completed "Southeast Air Base," MacDill Field.

Location. 27° 56.711′ N, 82° 27.514′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is on North Ashley Drive north of East Whiting Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. The marker is installed at MacDill Park on

By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

2. Tampa Salutes MacDill AFB Marker

Looking across MacDill Park toward the Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River

the Riverwalk, in downtown Tampa. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 North Ashley Drive, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America.

More about this marker. The marker is one of several located in the park. It is along the sidewalk, facing the street.

Regarding Tampa Salutes MacDill AFB. The WWII-era Tampa and Hillsborough County area was home to other Army airfields besides MacDill. Drew Field eventually became Tampa International Airport. Henderson Air Field was once housed on land today occupied by the Busch Gardens theme park, a brewery for Yuengling Beer, offices of the Florida Department of Transportation, and several other entities.

By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

3. MacDill Park on the Riverwalk

The practice bombing range immediately north of Henderson Field went on to become the main campus of the University of South Florida.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To discover how MacDill Air Force Base came to be and its roles through the decades, study each marker in the order shown.

Markers shown here face Ashley Drive. Another set across the park face the Hillsborough River.

By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

5. Tampa Honors the 5 Branches of Service

Marker honoring the United States Military is adjacent to the one saluting MacDill.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on August 6, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 895 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 4. submitted on August 8, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 5. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.